New Acquisition, Mandau, said to be 1800's

JoeCanada42 · 25th February 2023, 03:28 PM

Thank Sajen for the link and info
now I got to research Long Glat Blades , among Jimpul and more...

any confirmation on my handle being Iban style or?

also I read this by Roland in another thread

A head hunting mandau is thick at the base, sharp, quite heavy, forward balanced, often "decorated" with nicks and has a concave/convex blade. The best head hunting mandau are made from clay tempered, laminated high quality steel with a beautiful hamon.

what nicks are being referred to?? , i got some nicks on surface of my blade...

mine has a similar handle to this one,,
I want to mention the art on this one , to me, looks like a view into an ant farm, like a view through windows into the ant tunnels, possibly depicting a pangolin tongue going through the tunnel. see Jim's Mandau Post recently if you havent for my ideas on these handles

Sajen · 25th February 2023, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCanada42

Thank Sajen for the link and info
now I got to research Long Glat Blades , among Jimpul and more...

You're welcome! Long Glat was ruled out by my example, I was going by the handle from my example.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCanada42

any confirmation on my handle being Iban style or?

I am far away from being a Dayak specialist, I prefer to give it to others for the answer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCanada42

what nicks are being referred to?? , i got some nicks on surface of my blade...

I think Roland referred to nicks in the edge by his example.

Regards,
Detlef

David · 25th February 2023, 04:42 PM

Nice clean up Joe.
I am even more convinced that this blade has been adapted to this form from some other blade and has possibly been reshaped. And from the most recent photos you show i am still not seeing a concave/convex form of blade that is a key design element of the mandau blade.
What convinces me most that this may have started it's life as a different form of sword is the area on the edge side of the blade that remains flat and unsharpened and tapers distally for a fair bit of the length of the blade. I have never seen a mandau with this feature and wonder why they chose not to begin the edge of the blade for such a distance out from the hilt. Because of the way this sword is designed i can almost guarantee it was not used for headhunting and was probably more likely employed for the more common work of jungle clearing.
The letters still intrigue, but since a good part is lost to wear it is difficult to grab any useful information here. It is possible that you might be able to read a bit more of it if you did some kind of rubbing from the surface and then held it up to a mirror.

JoeCanada42 · 25th February 2023, 09:39 PM

Thanks Sajen , David,

I think its possible it could still have been owned by a head hunter at least? I heard they used many blades, and that when European steel became available it was used by choice.

Here is another thought I have been holding in the back of my mind
used as a , Pirate Sword?

Something I just staring researching...
British officer swords circa 1800 carrying this same G mark

JoeCanada42 · 26th February 2023, 02:15 AM

the G. , stamped marks
?The S matches with Mandau, Werecow found
swords dating from 1796-1803

JoeCanada42 · 26th February 2023, 06:38 PM

coin

JoeCanada42 · 27th February 2023, 05:21 AM

I read about pre regulation Dutch klewang blades and found that interesting..
but with the scabbard, handle and more unique to mandau style blade i am thinking this is older then the Dutch klewangs. maybe this form was developed by the natives , using a British blade from earlier.

I heard the natives preferred trading with the British over the Dutch because the British gave things the natives wanted like knives whereas the Dutch brought like blankets to the jungle..

perhaps even maybe this form blade was made by British in Galle for trade to the natives.

25th February 2023, 03:28 PM	#1
JoeCanada42 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 259	Thank Sajen for the link and info now I got to research Long Glat Blades , among Jimpul and more... any confirmation on my handle being Iban style or? also I read this by Roland in another thread A head hunting mandau is thick at the base, sharp, quite heavy, forward balanced, often "decorated" with nicks and has a concave/convex blade. The best head hunting mandau are made from clay tempered, laminated high quality steel with a beautiful hamon. what nicks are being referred to?? , i got some nicks on surface of my blade... mine has a similar handle to this one,, I want to mention the art on this one , to me, looks like a view into an ant farm, like a view through windows into the ant tunnels, possibly depicting a pangolin tongue going through the tunnel. see Jim's Mandau Post recently if you havent for my ideas on these handles Attached Images

25th February 2023, 09:39 PM	#4
JoeCanada42 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 259	Thanks Sajen , David, I think its possible it could still have been owned by a head hunter at least? I heard they used many blades, and that when European steel became available it was used by choice. Here is another thought I have been holding in the back of my mind used as a , Pirate Sword? Something I just staring researching... British officer swords circa 1800 carrying this same G mark Last edited by JoeCanada42; 25th February 2023 at 11:04 PM.

26th February 2023, 02:15 AM	#5
JoeCanada42 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 259	the G. , stamped marks ?The S matches with Mandau, Werecow found swords dating from 1796-1803 Attached Images

26th February 2023, 06:38 PM	#6
JoeCanada42 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 259	coin Attached Images

25th February 2023, 04:42 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,230	Nice clean up Joe. I am even more convinced that this blade has been adapted to this form from some other blade and has possibly been reshaped. And from the most recent photos you show i am still not seeing a concave/convex form of blade that is a key design element of the mandau blade. What convinces me most that this may have started it's life as a different form of sword is the area on the edge side of the blade that remains flat and unsharpened and tapers distally for a fair bit of the length of the blade. I have never seen a mandau with this feature and wonder why they chose not to begin the edge of the blade for such a distance out from the hilt. Because of the way this sword is designed i can almost guarantee it was not used for headhunting and was probably more likely employed for the more common work of jungle clearing. The letters still intrigue, but since a good part is lost to wear it is difficult to grab any useful information here. It is possible that you might be able to read a bit more of it if you did some kind of rubbing from the surface and then held it up to a mirror.

27th February 2023, 05:21 AM	#7
JoeCanada42 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 259	I read about pre regulation Dutch klewang blades and found that interesting.. but with the scabbard, handle and more unique to mandau style blade i am thinking this is older then the Dutch klewangs. maybe this form was developed by the natives , using a British blade from earlier. I heard the natives preferred trading with the British over the Dutch because the British gave things the natives wanted like knives whereas the Dutch brought like blankets to the jungle.. perhaps even maybe this form blade was made by British in Galle for trade to the natives.